Decreased shoulder function and pain common in recreational badminton players

Assessing the Association of Shoulder Pain Risk with Physical Fitness in Badminton Players at National Tournament Level

Background: Shoulder pain which affects sports performance and activities of daily life, is a common musculoskeletal problem experienced by badminton players. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the association of shoulder pain with physical fitness in elite university badminton players participating in the national tournament via medical check-ups. Methods: Physical fitness evaluations were performed among fifty-two 18 - 22 years old university badminton players participating in the national tournament. Handgrip strength, heel buttock distance, angle of straight leg raise, single leg stance, shoulder range of motion, and trunk range of motion were assessed. The prevalence of present shoulder pain was described. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association of present shoulder pain with physical fitness. Results: Sixteen badminton players (30.8%) sustained present shoulder pain related to badminton. Dominant trunk rotation (adjusted OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84 - 0.99, P-value = 0.028) and single leg stance of the nondominant leg (adjusted OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94 - 1.00, P-value = 0.048) were significantly associated with the presence of present shoulder pain. Conclusions: Decreased trunk rotation and deficit in single-leg stance balance might be potential risk factors associated with physical fitness for shoulder pain in university badminton players at national tournament level. These findings can help draw the attention of badminton coaches, players, and team members to facilitate physical fitness promotion for badminton pain/injury prevention.

Risk Factors for, and Prediction of, Shoulder Pain in Young Badminton Players: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Shoulder pain (SP) caused by hitting the shuttlecock is common in young badminton players. The objectives of the present study were to predict the risk factors for SP in young badminton players, and to determine the optimal risk factor cut-off that best discriminates those players who are at higher risk of suffering from SP.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted with 45 under-17 badminton players who participated in the Spanish Championship. Data were collected on anthropometric age, sports history, sagittal spinal curves, range of motion (ROM) and maximum isometric strength of shoulder. After 12 months, players completed a SP history questionnaire. Bayesian Student's t-analysis, binary logistic regression analysis and ROC analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 18 (47.4%) players reported at least one episode of SP. The shoulder internal rotation (SIR) ROM showed the strongest association (OR = 1.122; p = 0.035) with SP. The SIR ROM has an excellent ability to discriminate players at increased risk for SP (p = 0.001). The optimal cut-off for SIR ROM, which predicts players with an 81% probability of developing SP, was set at 55° (sensitivity = 75.0%, specificity = 83.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

The young badminton players who had a shoulder internal rotation ROM of 55° or less have a higher risk of SP one year later.

Shoulder Rotational Strength Profiles of Danish National Level Badminton Players

BACKGROUND

Increased age has been shown to be associated with weaker external rotators and stronger internal rotators of the shoulder in pitchers and tennis players. Whether this age-associated change is present in elite badminton players is unknown.

PURPOSE

To compare the internal and external rotation strength of the shoulder in adolescent and adult elite badminton players.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

METHODS

Thirty-one adolescent (12 females aged 16.8 ± 1.6 years and 19 males aged 17.1 ± 1.6 years) and 29 adult (10 females aged 25 ± 2.9 years and 19 males aged 26.2 ± 4.6 years) national level badminton players were tested pre-seasonally for external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR) isometric muscle strength bilaterally, using a hand-held dynamometer. Within-group ER to IR strength ratios were calculated (ER/IR×100%).

RESULTS

The adolescents had stronger shoulder ER than the adults on both sides (p < 0.05). The adult males tended to have stronger IR of the dominant shoulder than the adolescent males (p = 0.071). In the dominant shoulders, the strength ratios for adult females and males were 77% and 78%, respectively, while the same ratio for adolescent females and males were 85% and 99%, respectively. In the non-dominant shoulders, the ER/IR strength ratios for adult females and males were 90% and 87%, respectively, while the ratios for adolescent females and males were 116% and 102%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to demonstrate that in shoulder injury-free national team badminton players, adolescents have stronger shoulder ER than adults on both sides. Therefore, increased age appears to be associated with weaker shoulder ER muscles in elite badminton players.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3b.

Acromio-Humeral Distance Is Associated with Shoulder External Strength in National Elite Badminton Players-A Preliminary Study

Purpose: To examine acromio-humeral distance (AHD) and shoulder isometric strength for external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR) in national elite badminton players. Methods: Seven elite badminton players with asymptomatic shoulders aged 24 ± 4 (mean ± SD) from the Danish national badminton team were investigated. Shoulder AHD, isometric strength in ER and IR were bilaterally assessed with ultrasonography and a hand-held dynamometer (HHD). Results: AHD was greater on the dominant vs. the nondominant side (p = 0.018). Moreover, IR strength was greater on the dominant side vs. the nondominant side (p = 0.041). Furthermore, AHD and ER strength were highly correlated on the dominant side (p = 0.007, r = 0.900). A correlation was also shown between AHD and the ER/IR strength ratio on the dominant side (p = 0.033, r = 0.793). Conclusion: This preliminary study demonstrates that shoulder ER strength is strongly associated with AHD size, largely reflecting supraspinatus tendon-muscle hypertrophy as a result of sport-specific adaptation in national elite badminton players with asymptomatic shoulders. These novel data also suggest that habitual loading of the shoulder improves the supraspinatus tendon size, which may lower the mechanical stress and potentially reduce the risk of injury. This warrants strengthening the shoulder external rotators as a potential strategy to reduce the risk of future shoulder injury.

A prospective cohort study identifying risk factors for shoulder injuries in adolescent elite handball players: the Karolinska Handball Study (KHAST) study protocol

Background

Handball is a physical contact sport that includes frequent overhead throwing, and this combination leads to a high rate of shoulder injuries. Several factors have been associated with shoulder injuries in overhead athletes, but strong scientific evidence is lacking for most suggested risk factors. We therefore designed the Karolinska Handball Study (KHAST) with the aim to identify risk factors for shoulder injuries in adolescent male and female elite handball players studying at handball-profiled secondary schools in Sweden. Secondary objectives are to investigate whether shoulder function changes during the competition season and whether the physical profile of the players changes during their time in secondary school.

Methods

Players aged 15 to 19 years were included during the pre-season period of the 2014–2015 and the 2015–2016 seasons. At inclusion, players signed informed consent and filled in a questionnaire regarding playing position, playing level, previous handball experience, history of shoulder problems and athletic identity. Players also completed a detailed test battery at baseline evaluating the shoulder, neck and trunk. Players were then prospectively monitored weekly during the 2014–2015 and/or 2015–2016 competitive seasons regarding injuries and training/match workload. Results from the annual routine physical tests in the secondary school curriculum including bench press, deep squat, hand grip strength, clean lifts, squat jumps, counter movement jumps, <30 m sprints, chins, dips and Cooper’s test will be collected until the end of the competitive season 2017–2018. The primary outcome is the incidence of shoulder injuries and shoulder problems. The secondary outcome is the prevalence of shoulder injuries and shoulder problems.

Discussion

Shoulder problems are frequent among handball players and a reduction of these injuries is therefore warranted. However, in order to introduce appropriate preventive measures, a detailed understanding of the underlying risk factors is needed. Our study has a high potential to identify important risk factors for shoulder injuries in adolescent elite handball players owing to a large study sample, a high response rate, data collection during consecutive seasons, and recording of potential confounding factors.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12891-017-1852-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Characteristics of sway in the center of gravity of badminton players

[Purpose] To clarify the characteristics of fluctuations in the center of gravity (CoG) of badminton players by comparing them between those with high and low performance levels. [Subjects] Eight male badminton players belonging to teams ranked among the top 3 at the All Japan Badminton Championships (high-level group) and 8 playing badminton for recreation in university clubs (low-level group) were studied. [Methods] CoG sway during two- and one (dominant and non-dominant)-leg standing with the eyes open and closed were recorded for 30 seconds, using a stabilometer. [Results] With their eyes open, the CoG was maintained near the center by the high-level group, while it was displaced in the direction of the dominant leg by the low-level group, with a significant difference between the two groups. In contrast, with the eyes closed, the trace length, sway area, and X- and Y-axis sway amplitudes were greater in the low- than in high-level group, with significant differences between the two groups. [Conclusion] These results support the usefulness of standing on the non-dominant leg with the eyes closed for the evaluation of badminton players’ balance ability.